U.S. CongressNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94U.S. CongressMon, 11 Dec 2017 06:42:28 +0000U.S. Congresshttp://kut.org
Abby Livingston, Texas TribuneWASHINGTON — Members of the U.S. House Ethics Committee unanimously voted Thursday to establish a subcommittee to investigate allegations that U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold , a Corpus Christi Republican, sexually harassed a subordinate several years ago. The matter appeared to be resolved two years ago . But it resurfaced as a heightened awareness of sexual harassment has swept workplaces across the country, including U.S. congressional offices. Back in 2014, Farenthold's former communications director, Lauren Green, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against the congressman's office. The two parties settled in undisclosed terms in 2015. On Friday, Politico revealed that settlement included $84,000 in taxpayer funds. The four-term congressman said on Monday he would pay back the money . The action did little to calm the storm sweeping Capitol Hill. Intrigue and concern over sexual harassment is at the center of nearly every conversation in Washington, and Farenthold's political fate is aU.S. House Ethics Committee Takes A Closer Look Into Blake Farenthold Allegationshttp://kut.org/post/us-house-ethics-committee-takes-closer-look-blake-farenthold-allegations
19873 as http://kut.orgFri, 08 Dec 2017 01:34:58 +0000U.S. House Ethics Committee Takes A Closer Look Into Blake Farenthold AllegationsJill AmentFrom Texas Standard . The U.S. House has passed a bill allowing gun owners with licenses to carry firearms to carry those firearms weapons across state lines. It’s a bill the National Rifle Association has dubbed a “legislative priority.” Following the deadly mass shootings in Sutherland Springs and Las Vegas, legislators in Washington are also looking for a consensus on improving the national background check system for gun purchases, as well as banning a device known as “bump stocks.”Despite Broad Support, John Cornyn’s Bipartisan Gun Bill Could Be In Dangerhttp://kut.org/post/despite-broad-support-john-cornyn-s-bipartisan-gun-bill-could-be-danger
19867 as http://kut.orgThu, 07 Dec 2017 20:55:38 +0000Despite Broad Support, John Cornyn’s Bipartisan Gun Bill Could Be In DangerRhonda FanningFrom Texas Standard: Tuesday was a late night for political junkies, and residents of Georgia's 6th Congressional District, who were voting to decide on a new member of Congress. CNN called the race just after midnight. There will be a June runoff between Democrat Jon Ossoff – who won just under 50 percent of the vote – and Republican Karen Handel. The special election had pitted Ossoff against 11 Republicans.What John Culberson Can Learn From Jon Ossoff's Showing In Georgiahttp://kut.org/post/what-john-culberson-can-learn-jon-ossoffs-showing-georgia
17694 as http://kut.orgWed, 19 Apr 2017 18:25:59 +0000What John Culberson Can Learn From Jon Ossoff's Showing In GeorgiaAbby Livingston, Texas TribuneWASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke has scheduled a major political event on Friday, prompting speculation that the third-term Democratic congressman will launch a bid to challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2018. O'Rourke has spent the last several weeks traveling the state and has said in recent weeks that he is likely to launch a bid for U.S. Senate. In an email to supporters on Wednesday, his campaign wrote, "Together, we can do something really big, and really powerful for the state of Texas -- and for this country. Congressman Beto O'Rourke has a big announcement to make on Friday." A Cruz spokesperson declined to comment on the announcement. If O'Rourke does enter the race, he could face a competitive primary; U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio is considering a bid. A Castro bid is no sure thing; he has a rising profile in Congress, he's on the leadership track in the House of Representatives and he's deeply involved in the investigations into whether Russia interfered with theU.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke Promises 'Big Announcement' On Fridayhttp://kut.org/post/us-rep-beto-orourke-promises-big-announcement-friday
17454 as http://kut.orgWed, 29 Mar 2017 17:32:37 +0000U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke Promises 'Big Announcement' On FridayMichael MarksFrom Texas Standard: If Democrats hope to block the Republican agenda in the executive and legislative branches, they may need an old tool of the Senate – the filibuster. It allows dissenting senators to block bills and nominees backed by the majority. Or, as Republican Rep. Bill Flores of Texas explained on the Standard yesterday: "It prevents the Senate from ... its Constitutional responsibilities. And so what I say is, majority leader Mitch McConnell, if he's the majority leader, needs to get rid of the filibuster. We're going to need to get rid of it in order to get the Supreme Court appointees. We're going to need it to pass the appropriations bills we want.”This Election Could Mean an End to Filibusters in the U.S. Senatehttp://kut.org/post/election-could-mean-end-filibusters-us-senate
16289 as http://kut.orgThu, 10 Nov 2016 19:00:00 +0000This Election Could Mean an End to Filibusters in the U.S. SenateJohn L. Hanson Jr. On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents an encore presentation of a conversation he had with the late Shirley A. Chisholm. Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to Congress and an outspoken advocate for women and minorities during her seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives . She was known as a politician who refused to allow fellow politicians, including the male-dominated Congressional Black Caucus, to sway her from her goals. Born Shirley Anita St. Hill on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York . She was the eldest of four girls. Chisholm and her sisters spent much of their early childhood with their maternal grandmother in Barbados. In 1964, she ran for a state assembly seat. After winning the election by a landslide, she served in the New York General Assembly from 1964 to 1968. During her tenure, she sponsored a bill that instituted S.E.E.K. (Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge), a program that providedUnbought and Unbossed: Shirley A. Chisholmhttp://kut.org/post/unbought-and-unbossed-shirley-chisholm-0
13975 as http://kut.orgWed, 02 Dec 2015 15:58:35 +0000Unbought and Unbossed: Shirley A. ChisholmJohn L. Hanson Jr. On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents an encore presentation of a conversation he had with the late Shirley A. Chisholm. Chisholm was the first African-American woman elected to Congress and an outspoken advocate for women and minorities during her seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives . She was known as a politician who refused to allow fellow politicians, including the male-dominated Congressional Black Caucus, to sway her from her goals. Born Shirley Anita St. Hill on November 30, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York . She was the eldest of four girls. Chisholm and her sisters spent much of their early childhood with their maternal grandmother in Barbados.Unbought and Unbossed: Shirley A. Chisholmhttp://kut.org/post/unbought-and-unbossed-shirley-chisholm
9254 as http://kut.orgSun, 24 Nov 2013 20:14:00 +0000Unbought and Unbossed: Shirley A. ChisholmHardt StevensTexas Congressman Steve Stockman wants to give you an assault rifle. Stockman has launched an email and social media campaign to promote his giveaway of a free AR-15, promoting it as a chance to "win the gun that Obama's trying to ban" by visiting his website and entering a free contest. Watch Rep. Stockman's video below.Video: U.S. Rep Steve Stockman Aims to Give You an AR-15 http://kut.org/post/video-us-rep-steve-stockman-aims-give-you-ar-15
8246 as http://kut.orgFri, 28 Jun 2013 21:44:13 +0000Video: U.S. Rep Steve Stockman Aims to Give You an AR-15 The House of Representatives passed legislation Thursday that avoids a federal shutdown and keeps the government open through the end of the 2013 fiscal year, which winds up Sept. 30. The Senate approved the same measure Wednesday, so the bill now goes to the president for his signature. The New York Times characterizes the measure, which passed the House on a 318-109 vote , this way : The funding plan for the rest of the year ... locks in across-the-board spending cuts that will usher in the most austere government outlook in decades. But that doesn't mean an end to the partisan battles. The Washington Post reports that Republicans and Democrats are still at odds over the budget , just not the 2013 budget: Lawmakers are still debating how much to tax and spend for the years to come, and Thursday, the House also approved a budget blueprint by GOP Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin in a mostly partisan 221 to 207 vote. Ten Republicans joined House Democrats in opposing the Ryan budget measure.House OKs Bill Funding Government Through Septemberhttp://kut.org/post/house-oks-bill-funding-government-through-september
7040 as http://kut.orgThu, 21 Mar 2013 20:00:42 +0000House OKs Bill Funding Government Through SeptemberMarissa BarnettWe’re just one week away from across-the-board budget cuts known as “sequestration” and State Representative Mark Strama (D-Austin) is warning of the impact it could have on Texas. “If we have to suffer the cuts of sequestration on top of the cuts we just made last biennium, it would be really harmful to the state economy,” he said after a Friday press conference at the Capitol.Strama on Sequestration: Enormous Cuts to Texashttp://kut.org/post/strama-sequestration-enormous-cuts-texas
6718 as http://kut.orgFri, 22 Feb 2013 21:52:55 +0000Strama on Sequestration: Enormous Cuts to TexasEyder PeraltaThe two hulking rocks hurtling toward Earth today seem to have caught Congress' attention: Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith, a Republican from Texas, is calling for a Congressional hearing on what we can do to protect our planet from asteroids. He said the meteor that exploded above Russia and the massive asteroid that whizzed past Earth at 2:25 p.m. ET., are a "stark reminder of the need to invest in space science." His statement continues: "Fifty years ago, we would have had no way of seeing an asteroid like this coming. Now, thanks to the discoveries NASA has made in its short history, we have known about 2012 DA14 for about a year. As the world leader in space exploration, America has made great progress for mankind. But our work is not done. We should continue to study, research, and explore space to better understand our universe and better protect our planet." Unfortunately, Wired has pretty grim news on that front. Their headline today: " ThereU.S. House Committee Will Hold Hearing on Asteroidshttp://kut.org/post/us-house-committee-will-hold-hearing-asteroids
6626 as http://kut.orgFri, 15 Feb 2013 21:03:12 +0000U.S. House Committee Will Hold Hearing on AsteroidsMark Memmott, NPRSaying their proposal would "secure the border, modernize and streamline our current legal immigration system" and create "a tough but fair legalization program for individuals who are currently here," eight senators unveiled a "bipartisan framework for comprehensive immigration reform." The Associated Press writes that "although thorny details remain to be negotiated and success is far from certain, the development heralds the start of what could be the most significant effort in years toward overhauling the nation's inefficient patchwork of immigration laws." Update at 3:07 p.m. ET. During a press conference at Senate Radio-TV Gallery, five of the senators sounded downright upbeat about the set of "bipartisan principles" they hope will turn into legislation the Senate could consider in late spring or early summer. Sen. John McCain, a Republican from Arizona, said he was "truly optimistic" that a comprehensive immigration reform law would be passed in 2013. This is a "first step,"'Path To Citizenship' Part Of Senators' Bipartisan Immigration Planhttp://kut.org/post/path-citizenship-part-bipartisan-immigration-plan
6363 as http://kut.orgMon, 28 Jan 2013 15:28:21 +0000'Path To Citizenship' Part Of Senators' Bipartisan Immigration PlanMark Memmott, NPRAs they said they would following the Dec. 14 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Democrats today unveiled legislation that would ban assault-style weapons. The lead lawmaker, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, has summed up the legislation's key points this way : "Bans the sale, transfer, importation, or manufacturing of: -- 120 specifically-named firearms; -- Certain other semiautomatic rifles, handguns, shotguns that can accept a detachable magazine and have one or more military characteristics; and -- Semiautomatic rifles and handguns with a fixed magazine that can accept more than 10 rounds. "Strengthens the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and various state bans by: -- Moving from a 2-characteristic test to a 1-characteristic test; -- Eliminating the easy-to-remove bayonet mounts and flash suppressors from the characteristics test; and -- Banning firearms with "thumbhole stocks" and "bullet buttons" to address attempts to "work around" prior bans. "BansDemocrats Unveil Bill To Ban Assault-Style Weaponshttp://kut.org/post/democrats-unveil-bill-ban-assault-style-weapons
6331 as http://kut.orgThu, 24 Jan 2013 20:48:39 +0000Democrats Unveil Bill To Ban Assault-Style WeaponsDavid Welna, NPRThis week saw both a frantic finale to the much-unloved 112th Congress and, hours later, the swearing in of the new 113th. The cast of lawmakers and their leaders is mostly unchanged. The same can be said for Capitol Hill's never-ending drama over taxes, deficits and spending. What was arguably this week's most sensational congressional moment did not even take place in Washington. On Wednesday in Trenton, N.J., Republican Gov. Chris Christie blasted the GOP-led House for closing down the last Congress without even considering a Superstorm Sandy disaster relief bill. "There's only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims," Christie said. "The House majority and their speaker, John Boehner." Within hours, Boehner reversed course. He agreed to let the newly convened House take up part of the relief package, which it easily passed Friday, and consider the rest of the aid in 10 days. So while House Republicans have vowed to cut spending, the firstAs The Capitol Turns: Little Has Changed In Congress' New Seasonhttp://kut.org/post/capitol-turns-little-changed-congress-new-season
6074 as http://kut.orgSat, 05 Jan 2013 17:25:35 +0000As The Capitol Turns: Little Has Changed In Congress' New Season